Barnsley in need of recruits, concedes Flitcroft

The Reds failed to land Hull City’s Fryatt and Southampton’s Sharp in loan deals despite having the finances to fund the ambitious deals.

Flitcroft’s side sit second-bottom in the Championship after back-to-back defeats on the road at Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.

The Oakwell club’s poor start to the season – just four points garnered from seven Championship games – means whatever happens tomorrow when Watford visit, Flitcroft will meet the Reds’ board on Monday and urge the club to splash out on new recruits.

“We have a board meeting on Monday and it will be a case of where we are at, what do we think we need,” he said.

“But certainly some strategical recruitment now in areas is needed.

“We do not have enough points on the board and the balance is still not what I am happy with.

“Even though the players have given us everything – the last three games have showed the players have given everything they have got – we have not amassed points from the last two games, which is disappointing.

“The players aren’t happy that we haven’t got anything from Forest or Bournemouth, and I just feel that when you know they have given everything they have, you can’t be in denial.

“You have to do something about it and that’s what we will do, really fire the competition up.”

Flitcroft said the Reds had tried to keep their pursuit of Tigers striker Fryatt quiet, with chief executive Ben Mansford working hard on the deals.

“What you try and do is do your business behind closed doors until the deal is either on or off,” he said.

“Clubs get tricky with it, they sort of go out fishing, and I think that’s what Hull have done. Since Ben has come in we have tried to do our business as professional as we can do.

“But I think Steve Bruce has come out and said Barnsley have come in for Matty and tried to get a deal done.

“The finances aren’t a problem, but when you go for the type of profile like Billy Sharp and Matty Fryatt, a lot of the time they want to keep their options fully open, maybe wait for the right one.

“They are not under any great stress to leave, and want to wait to make the right decision.

“We have missed out on them two. I am not saying they can’t be re-opened – but that calibre of player, they always have other options which they can explore.”

Fryatt, 27, started out at Walsall where he secured a switch to Leicester City, before moving to the KC Stadium in 2011. A serious Achilles injury wiped out most of last season for the former England Under-19 striker.

Sheffield-born Sharp is also looking for a new club after being on the fringes at Saints, and has been linked with several Yorkshire clubs including Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United.

With two away trips this week, Flitcroft has had little time to work on transfers but hopes with no midweek game next week that positive news could be forthcoming.

“Next week is a free week. Monday is the board meeting, then Tuesday and Wednesday we can really assess where we are up to and go from there,” he said.

“We are always looking to reshape and rebalance the squad, that’s our duty as management of Barnsley Football Club – always looking to improve the quality of the playing staff.”

Barnsley have doubts over Tomasz Cywka, Jim O’Brien and Stephen Dawson for tomorrow’s visit of Watford.

“They all have a fighting chance,” said Flitcroft. “We will look and assess them (today).”

Goalkeeper Mike Pollitt has returned to Wigan after a groin injury, which will rule him out for a month.

Flitcroft believed Pollitt’s arrival had spurred on Luke Steele, and he will now bring in another goalkeeper to keep the pressure on the Reds’ No 1.

“That competition has seen Steele raise his game, training tempo, to a different level, certainly I have not seen at this football club while I have been here. Mike has had a definite effect on Luke going forward.”

One new arrival who is enjoying his Oakwell experience is on-loan defender Peter Ramage.

The 29-year-old is on loan from Crystal Palace and is set for his Oakwell debut tomorrow after playing against Forest and Bournemouth.

“It’s been weird because I’ve been here two weeks and not touched the surface of Oakwell,” he said. “Hopefully, we can start Saturday and get a positive result to kick on from there.

“I’m enjoying it. We could be sitting here with more points but things are positive and we’re creating chances which will hopefully go in.

“We could have had a couple of points from the last two away games but we just haven’t got the rub of the green.”